MEMPHIS — OG Anunoby buried the shot with the game on the line.
While the Grizzlies and the rest of the world were expecting Jalen Brunson to launch the potential game-winner Friday night, the Knicks point guard read the defense and passed out of a double-team to find Anunoby in the corner.
The forward then connected on the trey that put the Knicks up for good because Ja Morant’s layup bounced out on the final possession of New York’s 114-113 nail-biting victory.
It capped a well-rounded offensive effort from the Knicks (39-20), who got double-digit points from every starter.
Brunson had already pulled off another Captain Clutch moment, burying the go-ahead 3-pointer with 24 seconds left.
But Morant followed up with an and-1 drive over Mikal Bridges and Mitchell Robinson to give the Grizzlies a two-point edge.
That set up the biggest shot of Anunoby’s career in New York and a big victory for the Knicks, who swept the season series against Memphis (38-21).
Just about a month earlier, the Knicks plastered the Grizzlies by 27 points at MSG.
It was one of the best New York performances of the season, and one of Memphis’ worst.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins wanted to shore up the defense/rebounding from that ugly defeat.
“It was an off night,” Jenkins said. “It was a combination of us playing poorly and also playing into their strengths, which we’ve got to adjust coming into the second game. Can’t let them live in transition. I thought we did a good job in the half-court when we execute our game plan. We’re going to still need that [Friday] night, but we have to limit those free points that would give them not just the beginning of possessions, but also in the rebound department, which is still a major issue of ours.”
At his morning shootaround, Miles McBride outlined the key to stopping the fast-paced Grizzles, who entered Friday night averaging the most points per game.
“Just being physical,” said McBride, who finished with 17 points Friday night while providing the highlight — a soaring one-handed jam in transition and in traffic. “Keeping them out of the paint is the main thing. They’re a big iso team. For us, leaning on each other. You can’t guard everybody one on one. So leaning on each other and sending them to the help is going to be big for us.”
Unlike the game at the Garden, Friday night was close. The Grizzlies led for the entire first half but never by more than nine and took a 3-point edge into the break.
They then locked up their first double-digit lead with 6:55 remaining in the third quarter. But it was short-lived.
The Knicks took their first lead with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. From there, it was back and forth until Anunoby’s finish and Morant’s miss.
With the long-awaited return of Robinson, the Knicks were at full strength for the first time this season.
But foul problems limited two of their starters — Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns — and Tom Thibodeau was forced to roll longer with his bench than usual.
Robinson, who hadn’t played since April after undergoing another ankle surgery, was one of those reserves.
He was called into action quickly as the first substitute after Towns picked up two fouls.
Robinson’s first six-minute shift was encouraging, as productive as the Knicks could’ve hoped after a 10-month layoff.
It included a driving dunk and a left-handed finish in the post.
Robinson finished with six points and five rebounds in 12 minutes.
Towns was limited by foul trouble and out of rhythm, managing just two points in 13 minutes in the first half.
He finished with just 11 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes.
Hart also navigated foul problems while picking up his fifth foul early in the third quarter. He totaled just 12 points on six shots.
Brunson led the Knicks with 23 points.
The point guard picked a personal beef with Jenkins, who apparently yelled something to or about Brunson early in the first quarter.
Brunson, as a result, stared down Jenkins on several possessions and jawed at the coach throughout the opening half.
